Originally from Fr Redmond Park in Arklow, Murphy, who is now 46 years old, received a six-year sentence in July 2003 for sexually assaulting an 85-year-old woman in her Avoca home in May 2002.

On February 25, 2003, while on bail in relation to this charge, he orally raped a 15-year-old girl in Wicklow town, for which he received an eightyear sentence in November 2005.

A spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said it doesn't comment on individual cases, but sources close to the prison authorities confirmed Murphy had been released from the Midlands Prison on Friday. He is understood to be living in temporary accommodation in Dublin.

Murphy went into custody in February 2003 and with remission was due for release last week. Sources close to the prison service said: 'We held on to him for as long as we could. He wasn't released early.' AN ARKLOW MAN is back on the streets having served consecutive prison sentences for terrifying sex attacks on an elderly woman and a teenage girl.

Originally from Fr. Redmond Park in Arklow town Anthony Murphy (46) received a six-year sentence in July 2003 for sexually assaulting an 85-year-old woman in her home on May 2, 2002, in Avoca.

On February 25, 2003, while on bail in relation to this charge he orally raped a 15-year-old girl in Wicklow town for which he received an eight-year sentence in November 2005.

During the sentencing hearing Detective Garda John Foley told the court the then 15-year-old victim was accosted by Murphy who asked her where he might get a taxi.

She told him to go to the Main Street but then he blocked her way saying, 'Don't go, I'm not going to hurt you or anything'.

The girl attempted to walk on but Murphy grabbed her and brought her in behind a church, where the offence occurred.

Murphy told the girl he would kill her if she did not do as he ordered. She eventually got away from him and raised the alarm.

Murphy committed this offence while on bail facing a charge of sexually assaulting an 85-year-old woman in Avoca in May 2002.

In that instance he called to the woman's house and carried out his attack leaving the pensioner traumatised.

On the day he carried out the horrific attack on the teenage girl he had been before Wicklow Circuit Court in relation to the 2002 charge but left before his case was called.

Murphy received a six- year sentence in July 2003 for the first sexual assault on the pensioner and this was backdated to February 2003.

In November, 2005, he received a further eight-year sentence with the final year suspended for attacking the teen in Wicklow town.

Mr. Justice Paul Carney also certified Murphy as a sex offender and directed that he undergo five years post-release supervision.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service said it doesn't comment on individual cases but sources close to the prison authorities confirmed Murphy had been released from the Midlands Prison on Friday.

He is currently understood to be living in temporary accommodation in Dublin under the supervision of the probation services.

Murphy went into custody in February 2003 following the attack on the teenage girl and was due for release last week with remission. Sources close to the prison service said, 'We held on to him for as long as we could. He wasn't released early.'